Internal combustion engine with swash plate drive



June 14, 1950 M. NAKEscl-l 2,940,325

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVE med Feb. 15, 1957 ssheets-sheet 1 June 14, 1960 M. NAKEscH 2,940,325

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVE Filed Feb. 15, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 2 2 fsa 204 206 17o 166 l I 172 6 /54 0 h1 l t" "-M i 202i; .3 /58 [6g 200 /26 Mic/mel Na/resch I zNvENToR ATTORNEY June 14, 1960M NAKESCH 2,940,325

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVE Filed Feb. l5, 1957 5Sheets- Sheet 3 234 24550 BY QW ATTORNEY `lune 14, 1960 M. NAKEscl-l2,940,325

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVE Filed Feb. 15, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Michael Nakesch INVENIOR June 14, 1960 M, NAKESCH2,940,325

` INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVE Filed Feb. l5, 19575 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/G. /4 l 1 F/G. /3 356 354 l" 294 20 352 22a 228 i 3 I*i 2.96 i 32 O 292 290 S 2 l 323 S 34a 358 328 324 s# 26 32 35T 6 /2993f@ 64 34 330 /358 N w 33a i i M j 3 0 J M 46 334 J 348 J 304 |346 336342 f 3 /5 v3 306 34 350 N Michael Na/sc/f INVENTOR.

United States Patent INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH SWASH PLATE DRIVEMichael Nakesch, 736 Elgin St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Feb.15, 1957, Ser. No. 640,459

2 Claims. (Cl. 74-60) lhis invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in internal combustion engine construction, and morespecifically to an improved internal combustion engine of the typehaving a swash plate drive.

Itis a well known rfact that dilerent compression ratios are required inorder to obtain vthe proper inner combustion within a cylinder and theproper fuel-bore ratio within said cylinder, depending upon theparticular fuel being used in order to obtain the maximum combustionefficiency from such fuel. The average internal combustion engine isdesigned to operate on a particular fuel. However, in many instances itmay be desired to operate at certain times on a light petroleum productsuch as gasoline or a heavier petroleum product such as diesel oil andvthe like. `Ordinarily the compression ratio of an engine may be changedby changing the cylinder head thereof. However, because of a markeddilferential in the combustion ratio between an engine which is set upto operate on a light petroleum fuel and one which is set up to operateon a heavy petroleum fuel, it is virtually impossible to obtain thisdifferential in compression ratio by merely changing the cylinder head.Further, this requires that an owner of an internal combustion enginehave on hand extra cylinder heads corresponding to all of the variouscompression ratios which he may desire.

It is therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide animproved internal combustion engine construction which is of such anature whereby the effective length of stroke of a piston may be variedas desired thus varying the relationship between the piston and theassociated cylinder head upon the upper end of the stroke of the pistonto vary the compression ratio of the engine.

Another object of this invention yis to provide an improved engine ofthe type which utilizes a swash plate for -t-he transfer ofreciprocating motion to rotary motion, the swash plate being connecteddirectly to connecting rods of an internal combustion engine or the likeand being in turn connected to a y wheel by a drive pin, the connectionbetween the swash plate and the fly wheel being an adjustable one whichin eiect will Vary the length of stroke of the piston in order toproduce rotation of the tly wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved internalcombustion engine of the type which utilizes a swash plate intermediatethe pistons and a fly wheel lfor converting the reciprocating motion ofthe pistons into rotary motion of the ily wheel, the connection betweenthe swash plate and the ily wheel being an adjustable one so as to varythe effective stroke of the pistons, the fly wheel being provided acounter balance weight which is adjustable so as to compensate for anyshift in the connection between the swash plate and the y wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an mproved internalcombustion engine of the type which utilizes a swash plate means forconverting reciprocating motion to rotary motion, .the swash plate meansprovided with shoes which are engageable in guide ways in a block2,940,325 Patented June 14, 1960 ice 2 assembly of the internalcombustion engine whereby r'o` tary motion of Ytheswash plate isrestrained and movement of the swash plate is limited to rockingmovement.' Yet another object of this invention is to provide an`improved valve construction for internal combustion enfv gines, thevalve construction including the customary in\ take and exhaust valvesat theupper end of a cylinder and including an auxiliary exhaust valve,the auxiliary exhaust valve being disposed .adjacent the lower end of acylinder and above the lower-most position of a piston for facilitatingthe exhausting of combustion gases from the cylinder.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved auxiliaryexhaust valve -for internal combus-r tion engines, the auxiliary exhaustvalve being connected to the cylinder of Ithe internal combustion engineadjacent the lower end thereof and above the lower-most position of apiston, the auxiliary exhaust valve being of the proper type and beingspring urged to a closed position and operable by the pressure of gaseswithin the cylinder, there being means for varying the spring pressureon the valve.

Another object of this invention is -to provide an improved valveassembly for internal combustion engines particularly the type utilizinga swash plate -for converting f reeiprocatory motion to rotary motionand having a guide shaft located centrally of the cylinders of theinternal combustion engine, the valve assembly including a cam platecarried by the drive shaft, the cam plate being provided with acircumferential cam surface for operating one group of valves of ltheinternal combustion engine and an arcuate cam surface disposed at rightangles to the circumferential cam surface for operating another group ofvalves of the internal combustion engine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved valveassembly for .internal combustion engines of the type which utilizes aswash plate -for converting reciprocatory motion to rotary motion andhaving a central Vdrive shaft, the valve assembly including a cam platewhich is mounted directly on the valve shaft for rotation therewith lforthe operation of exhaust and intake valves of the individual cylinders,the cam plate being provided with cam surfaces and the valve assemblyincluding followers which are so associated whereby valve operatingmovement of the followers is obtained directly from the cam plate sothat the valve assembly may be operated without requiring any additionaldrive with the exception of an induction drive between .the drive shaftand the cam plate permitting the cam plate to rotate about the driveshaft at a reduced speed. Y

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accom-l panying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlikeV numerals refer )to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the internalcombustion engine which is the subject of this invention and shows aspecific arrangement of the various components thereof, a cover -for thevalves of thel valve assembly of .the internal combustion engine beingshown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially from the plane indicated in section line 2-2 of Figure 1and shows a specific arrange. men-t of the .valves of one of thecylinders and the connection between a connecting rod and a piston;

Figure 3 is an enlarged yfragmentary transverse sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure2 and shows the arrangement of valve ports in the cylinder head of theparticular cylinder; Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view fasteners 116. Thecap 114 and the connecting member 112 have formed therein complementarybearing surfaces 118 which receive a spherical member 1 20 on the lowerend of the drive pin 98. It will thus be seen that the connectionbetween the swash plate 46 and the tiy wheel 92 is such that the rockingmovement of the swash plate 46 imparted thereto by the pistons 52 willbe transmitted to the ywheel 92 inthe form of rotary movement.

In order to counter-balance the effect of the drive connection 108 onthe y wheel 92, there is provided a counter-balance weight 122. Thecounter-balance weight 122 is secured in place on the upper surface ofthe y wheel 92 by means of a bolt 124.

In order that the engine may operate, the upper end of each of thecylinders 24 is closed by a cylinder head 126. The cylinder head 126 isprovided with the usual igniting device 128 and exhaust and intakevalves which will be described in more detail hereinafter. It isunderstood that the relationship between the piston 52 in its uppermostposition and its respective cylinder head 126 will determine thecompression ratio of the engine 10. If the uppermost position of thepiston 52 leaves a relatively great space between the piston 52 and thecylinder head 126, then the compression ratio will be relatively low. Onthe other hand, if the space is reduced by permitting the piston 52 totravel nearer the cylinder head 126, then the compression ratio will begreatly increased. Thus, by providing means whereby the upper member ofthe movement of the piston 52 may be varied, the

t compression ratio of the engine 18 may be slightly varied so that theengine 10 may be adjusted to burning the lighter fuels, such asgasoline, or heavier fuels, such as diesel oil, etc.

In order to vary the stroke and nal upper position of the pistons 52,the connecting member 112 is mounted by sliding movement in the recess110. However, in order that force may be transmitted from the swashplate 46 to the y wheel 96, the connecting member 112 cannot slideduring the operation of the engine 10. Thus there is provided a threadedmember 130 which is mounted for rotation within` the fly wheel 92 as at132'and which is threadedly engaged in a bore 134 in the connectingmember 112. An outer end of the threaded member 130 is provided with awrench engageable portionf136 to facilitate the rotation thereof and theresultant positioning of the connecting member 112. p l

The counter-weight 122 must be shifted to correspond to the shifting ofthe connectingv member 112. Accord'- ingly, the bolt 124 passes throughan elongated slot 138 and there is provided an interlocked connection140 between the ily wheel 92 and the counter-balance weight 122.

At this time, it is pointed out that the drive shaft'82 may be connectedto a driven device by any type of connection desired. Illustrated inFigure 2 on the drive shaft 82 is a coupling flange 142. However, othertypes of connections could be utilized.

y The cover 16 is provided with an outwardly projecting portion 144surrounding the bearing 84. The projecting portion 144 carries a bearing146 which is used to mount for rotation a cam plate 148. The cam plate148 surrounds the drive shaft 82 and is mounted for rotation concentricthereof. The internal combustion engine 10 is a four-cycle engine andaccordingly, the cam plate 148 must rotate at one-half the speed of thedrive shaft 82. Otherwise, the cam plate 148 may be directly mounted onthe drive shaft 82 for a two-cycle engine.

In order that the cam plate 148 may rotate at one-half the speed of thedrive shaft 82, there is mounted on the drive shaft a drive gear 150.The drive gear 150 has meshed therewith an idler gear 152 which iscarried by a shaft 154 depending from the partition wall 88. The idlergear 152 is in turn meshed with an internal ring gear 156 on the camplate 148.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that thecylinder head 126 is provided with two ports 158 and 160. Although it isimmaterial for purpose of description, the port 158 will be described asan exhaust port and the port 160 will be considered an intake port. Theport 158 opens into the interior of the cylinder 24 and is normallyclosed by means of an exhaust valve 162. The exhaust valve 162 extendsupwardly to the cylinder head 126 and it is normally retained in aclosed position by means of a spring 164.

In order that the exhaust valve 162 may be urged to an open position,the upper end thereof has connected there'- to a rocker arm 166. Therocker arm 166 is mounted on a rocker shaft 168 carried by an opstandingsupport 170 formed on the upper part of the cylinder head 126. The endof the rocker `on 166 remote from the exhaust valve 162 is provided withan adjustable fitting 172 for connection with an elongated push rod 174;Push rod 174 is mounted within projecting ribs 176 on the exterior ofthe cylinder 24 for guided vertical reciprocating movement. Further, asis best illustrated in Figure 1, the crank case portion 14 is secured tothe inner surface of the wall 86 thereof projecting ribs 178 whichreceive the lower portion of the push rod 174. Incidentally, the lowerportion of the push rod is enlarged as in 180. The push rod is urgeddownwardly by means of a coil spring 182 which engages the upper end ofthe enlarged portion 180 and which bears against the under side of thecylinder portion 20.

In order that the exhaust valve 162 may be selectively opened, there isformed on the cam plate 148 a circumferentially extending cam surface184. The cam surface 184 is of a design to produce the desired valvetiming and opening. Engaged with the cam surface 184 is a verticaldepending leg 186 of an angular follower 188. The follower 188 ismounted on a pin 190 carried by depending ears 192 on a partition wall88. Follower 188 also includes the horizontal portion 194 which engagesla spherical roller end 196 of the push rod 180. The partition wall 188is provided with an opening 198 to permit the passage of the horizontalportion 194 when it is swung upwardly by the cam surface 184.

The intake port 160 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 24and is normally closed by an intake Valve 200. The intake valve 200passes upwardly through the cylinder head 126 and is urged to a closedposition by a valve spring 202. Connected to the upper end of the intakevalve 200 by moving it to an open position is a rocker arm 204 which iscarried by a rocker shaft 206 which in turn is supported bya projectionportion 208 of the cylinder head 126. The end of the rocker arm 204removed from the intake valve 200 is provided with an adjustable tting210 which is engaged with a push rod 212. The push rods 174 and 212 aremounted in projections 176 on the cylinder 24 and in projecting ribs 178on the wall portion 86 of the crank case 14. Also, the push rods 212 areprovided with an enlarged lower portion 214 and are urged downwardly bymeans of a coil spring 216. v

The lower end of the push rods '212 are provided with an enlargedfollower 218 which is journalled in the wall 88 for reciprocatorymovement. The follower 218 is provided at its lower end with a followerwheel 220 which engages an arcuate cam surface 222 formed in the upperpart of the cam plate 148. It is to be noted that the arcuate camsurface 222 is formed on a projecting part 224 of the cam plate 148. Inorder to provide for clearance of the depending vertical portion 186 ofthe cam follower 188 there is formed in the projecting portion 224 agroove 226.

In order that the combustion gases can more completely be removed fromthe cylinder 24 so as to increase the eiciency of the engine 10, thereis mounted on each of the cylinders 24 an auxiliary exhaust valve 228.The auxiliary exhaust valve 228 is aligned with an opening vantage ofthe engine is the provision of a novel valve assembly which permits thecam surface to be mounted on a cam plate which rotates together with thedrive shaft about a common axis, thus eliminating an undesirablecomplicated valve train as is usually required in conjunction withengines of this type.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it ris -not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be restorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new 4is -as follows:

1. In an engine of the type including a block assembly and a pluralityof pistons, a swash plate mounted for rocking movement `about Iitscenter, connecting rods connecting said pistons to said swash plate forconverting reciprocating -movement of said pistons to rocking movementof said swash plate, a drive shaft, a fly Wheel, a drive pin carried bysaid swash plate, an improved drive connection between said drive pinand said fly wheel, said drive connection including a connecting member,a swivel connection between said drive pin and said connecting member,adjustable means on said y Wheel connecting said connecting member tosaid ily Wheel in a selective linear radial position relative to saiddrive shaft and including a radial recess opening toward said swashplate, said connecting member being seated in said recess,

said radial recs having side walls, said connecting member bearingagainst said side walls for transmitting force between said connectingmember and said ily wheel, said adjustable means including a screwthreaded member carried by said fly wheel and interlockingly engagedwith said connecting member, and a counter-balance weight on said ilywheel diametrically opposed to said connecting member, means adjustablymounting said Weight on said ily wheel independent of said connectingmember and in radial linear alignment therewith to compensate forshifting of said connecting member.

2. The structure of claim l in which said block assembly includes -aplurality of vertically disposed guideways opening toward said swashplate, said swash plate including la plurality of roller type shoesextending radially therefrom and received within said verticallydisposed guideways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,102,457 Twombly July 7, 1914 1,206,520 Eglinton Nov. 28, 19161,218,487 Storle Mar. 6, 1917 1,394,811 Daloz Oct. 25, 1921 1,679,425Houston Aug. 7, 1928 1,722,726 Wills July 30, 1929 1,819,137 A ThompsonAug. 18, 1931 1,915,966 Wills June 27, 1933 2,539,880 Wildhaber Ian. 30,1951 2,551,025 Lindeman May 1, 1951

